The United States has remained steadfast on "maximum pressure" against North Korea even as Pyongyang has made efforts to "shut down" the Punggye-ri nuclear site, return U.S. remains from the 1950-53 Korean War, and strengthen exchanges between North and South, Xinhua stated.

Lu Chao, a North Korea expert at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told Chinese state tabloid Global Times the third summit could be a path toward "stimulating peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula," even as a "deadlock" prevails in U.S.-North Korea relations.

North Korea did not give a precise date for the third summit, to be held in September.